The Dispatch

Britain to strengthen ties with the EU in new legislation

Britain will introduce legislation to strengthen its ties with the European Union, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prioritises mending economic relations with the bloc as he tries to stay in…

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Labour unrest intensifies as British lawmakers push Starmer towards exit

Keir Starmer came under renewed pressure on Monday when four ministerial aides stepped down and more than 70 Labour lawmakers publicly called for the British prime minister's resignation after his…

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UK’s Keir Starmer says Britain must reclaim leading role in Europe in major post-polls address

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on Monday to prove the “doubters” in his own party and among the electorate as a whole wrong as he tries to fight off demands…

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UK’s Labour Party suffers heavy early losses as Reform gains in elections

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered heavy early losses in elections on Friday, showing the depth of voter anger with his government and raising fresh doubts about his future just…

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UK voters cast ballots in elections expected to deal blow to Starmer

Millions of British voters cast their ballots on Thursday in local and regional elections that are expected to deal a huge blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party and…

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Britain explores legal options to prosecute suspect in McCann disappearance

British police are seeking to bring a German suspect to trial in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, as investigators step up efforts ahead of the 20th anniversary of her case…

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Merz plays down US military withdrawal plans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted he will maintain close ties with Washington despite plans by Donald Trump to withdraw thousands of US troops. Speaking on German television, Merz said…

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UK set to enter talks to join the European Union’s $105.9 billion Ukraine loan

Britain is set to enter talks to join the European Union's 78 billion ‌pound loan ($106 billion) to Ukraine, the government said, in a further sign of deepening European defence…

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Most Swiss back initiative to cap population

A slim majority of Swiss are backing an upcoming referendum proposal to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million, and support for it is growing, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.…

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UK lawmakers approve lifetime smoking ban for today’s under-18s

Children in Britain who are 17 or younger, ‌and anyone born in the future, will never be able to legally buy cigarettes after lawmakers approved new stricter restrictions on smoking.…

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Belgians advised to have enough supplies to last 72 hours

Belgium’s National Crisis Centre has launched a nationwide campaign urging citizens to be ready to cope independently for up to 72 hours in the event of an emergency. The initiative…

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Nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared trying to migrate in 2025

Nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes last year, with sea routes to Europe the most deadly and many victims lost ‌in "invisible shipwrecks", a U.N. agency said…

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Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces

The Iran war has left Britain's armed forces exposed, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act on his promises to invest in defence, after years of warnings from…

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ECJ limits detention for rejected asylum seekers to 18 months

The European Court of Justice has ruled that rejected asylum seekers in the Netherlands must be released from detention after a maximum of 18 months, clarifying that this period covers…

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UK foreign minister Cooper cuts short diplomatic tour

British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will cut short an intensive diplomatic tour designed to build consensus around making a ceasefire in the Iran war permanent and on the ‌next steps…

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Two arms brokers on trial in UK for missiles and fighter jet deals with Libya and Sudan

Two arms brokers arranged illegal deals to supply ex-Soviet surface-to-air missile systems to South Sudan and fighter jets to Libya during its civil war, British prosecutors told a London court…

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Far-right AfD overtakes German conservatives in new poll

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for a second time this week. The survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday showed…

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Netherlands migration bills face backlash over “illegal stay” offence clause

A proposal in the Netherlands to make it a criminal offence to remain in the country without valid residence documents has triggered concern among lawmakers, with critics warning it could…

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UK sets up Brexit-style crisis team to deal with Iran conflict

Keir Starmer is setting up a Brexit-style “Middle East response committee” to reshape how Britain handles the Iran conflict. The prime minister is expected to chair the group for the…

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UK pauses its plan to cede Chagos Islands

The UK government has put on hold plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after intensive opposition by the United Sttes. The proposed legislation underpinning the agreement…

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Germany’s far-right AfD adopts ‘radical’ manifesto ahead of key polls

Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is leading polls in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of September’s regional elections, raising the prospect of the first far-right state government since World War Two. At…

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UK Tracks Russian Submarines Conducting Covert Cable Surveillance

The UK has detected three Russian submarines conducting a covert operation over critical undersea cables and pipelines in waters north of the country, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed. A British…

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UPDATED: Germany works to clarify new rules on fighting-age men leaving country

Germany's armed ‌forces are working on clarifying a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to gain permission to leave the country for more than…

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Britain eyes summer deadline for EU reset deal

A deal to re-align key parts of the U.K. economy with the European Union is on course to be reached by the early summer, according to the minister in charge…

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CDU/CSU calls for cannabis rethink 2 years in

Government ministers from Germany's conservative CDU and CSU parties on Wednesday called for changes to the 2024 partial legalization of cannabis introduced by the previous more left-leaning coalition government. They…

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Friedrich Merz: Most Syrians to Leave Germany Within Three Years

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he and the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hope that 80% of the Syrians in Germany will return home in the next three years. During…

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London house prices fall for sixth consecutive month

London house prices have fallen for a sixth consecutive month, marking the sharpest annual decline in nearly two years and signalling a sustained slowdown in the capital’s property market, official…

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UK Government Report Calls for Tigher Rules on Overseas Funding of Political Parties

A review commissioned by the British Government has recommended a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, alongside tighter rules on overseas funding, in an effort to strengthen transparency…

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Belgium to Deploy Soldiers in Streets for Security Patrols

Belgium will begin deploying soldiers on its streets from Monday, Defence Minister Theo Francken announced Thursday during a plenary session of the Chamber of Representatives. Up to 200 soldiers will…

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Netherlands Supports European Rules to Safely Reuse Returned Medication

The Netherlands has signalled support for forthcoming European legislation that would allow patients to return unused medication to pharmacies for safe redistribution, in a move aimed at reducing waste, lowering…

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UK ends centuries-old hereditary seats in House of Lords

Hereditary peers are set to lose their automatic right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, a major reform expected to take effect before the next King’s Speech.…

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British Airways cancels Abu Dhabi service ‘until later this year’

British Airways said it had cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv “until later this month”, while services to and from Abu Dhabi have…

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Six killed in Swiss bus blaze, police probe reports of passenger starting fire

At least six people were killed and three others injured after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland in what police believe may have been a deliberate act. Reports suggest…

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UK Parliament rejects proposal to ban social media use for under-16s

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have rejected a proposal to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, following a vote in the House of Commons…

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Synagogue in Belgian city of Liege damaged in explosion

A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege ‌was damaged by an explosion early on Monday, Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF reported, citing local police. No injuries were reported. ⁠The…

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Al Fayed abuse should be investigated as human trafficking, says former senior Met officer

A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has urged investigators to widen their probe into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to include human…

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Britain to bar study visas for four nations, halt Afghan work visas

Britain said on Tuesday it would block study visas ‌for nationals from four countries and halt work visas for Afghans, using what it called an "emergency brake" to curb rising…

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Rían, Lily most popular baby names in Ireland last year

Rían was the most popular name in Ireland for boys, while Lily was the most popular girls' name last year, according to statistics from the Irish CSO. The top five…

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Embarrassing defeat for UK’s Starmer as Greens seize Labour stronghold

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour suffered an embarrassing election defeat to the left-wing Green Party on Friday in an area of Manchester it had dominated for almost a century, a…

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Gibraltar must follow EU rules

Gibraltar will remain British but must follow EU rules under its new Brexit deal, the full legal text of the agreement has revealed. Madrid deems the British Overseas Territory as…

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UK and French Vessels to Support Ireland in Policing Its Waters

Ireland is to deepen naval co-operation with France and Britain, including allowing their vessels to patrol Irish-controlled waters and offer protection during the EU presidency. The move towards deeper co-operation…

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German drone deal faces scrutiny over Thiel stake

A multibillion euro German military drone contract is facing political scrutiny over billionaire investor Peter Thiel’s stake in a Berlin defence tech firm, according to a report by investigative portal…

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UK Government to Release Papers on Prince Andrew’s Trade Envoy Role

The British government will publish confidential documents linked to Prince Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy following mounting parliamentary pressure. Britihs MPs on Tuesday approved a motion demanding the release of…

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Mandelson’s lawyers say his arrest followed ‘baseless suggestion’ he planned to leave UK

Lawyers for Peter Mandelson said he was arrested at his London home on Monday because police considered him a potential flight risk, a claim they insist is “baseless”. The former…

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New Dutch PM Jetten faces uphill task as minority government installed

Rob Jetten became the youngest prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally confirmed in power by King Willem-Alexander. Jetten, 38, propelled his progressive, pro-EU…

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Police search at Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation

Police have released Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after arresting him earlier on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince was photographed returning to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk shortly after leaving…

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Thames Valley Police. In a statement,…

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Germany plans to give spies vast new powers in rollback of postwar restraints

Germany is preparing to significantly strengthen its foreign intelligence service amid growing concern that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing with Europe, according to a report by Politico.…

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EU, UK close on agreement on Gibraltar

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of a new EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, completing the legal framework governing relations over the territory. Gibraltar…

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NATO will become more European-led, NATO Chief Rutte says

The NATO alliance will become more European-led, with a continuing strong presence of the United States, as European allies significantly increase military spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on…

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The Netherlands is in the grip of a winter flu epidemic

The Netherlands is officially in the grip of a flu epidemic, as the number of people who visited their family doctor with flu-like symptoms rises for two weeks in a…

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UK Finance Minister Urges EU to Admit Britain to ‘Made in Europe’ Framework

Britain should be part of any “Made in Europe” club giving preference to European goods, the U.K.’s finance chief has said. Rachel Reeves said she was in favor of the…

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German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland

Last year, 5,976 Syrians applied for voluntary repatriation to Syria, which was funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), submitting all the necessary documents. Of these,…

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UK Labour veteran tells MPs removing Starmer would be a bad idea

Veteran Labour minister Jacqui Smith backed Keir Starmer on Monday, warning MPs and Cabinet colleagues against plotting to remove him as prime minister. Smith, who served under Tony Blair and…

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Prince Andrew’s Epstein Fallout: Latest Revelations Explained

The 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew, is once again under the spotlight following new revelations from the recently released Epstein files. Despite consistently denying any…

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William and Catherine say they are ‘deeply concerned’ in first statement on Epstein revelations

The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are “deeply concerned” by the latest revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, marking their first public statement on the ongoing scandal. A Kensington…

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Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Mandelson Controversy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is facing turmoil after the resignation of Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.…

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